Few NFL divisions have a storyline that is heading into the offseason than AFC North.
First of all, how will the Baltimore Ravens overcome the playoff hump? The Ravens are perennial postseason participants, but only reached the AFC title game once during their time at Lamar Jackson.
Then there’s Ohio State. The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of well-known stars to win long-term contracts, including receivers Tee Higgins and Jammer Chase and Edgetrey Hendrickson. Will general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski, along with the Cleveland Browns, replace Desshaun Watson and insert a new quarterback into the fold?
And finally, will the Pittsburgh Steelers try to do another run on the same roster, or will they try to blow things up and rebuild with Coach Mike Tomlin at all its epicenter?
Let’s start with Charm City, where Raven is about to go from contender to champion.
Raven has a pair of high quality edge lashes, but it doesn’t get in the way of depth or longer term security.
Baltimore scored 22.5 sacks last season from the combination of Odafeowe and Kyle Vannoy. However, the Ravens have only signed each of them for one more year, with Oweh playing their fifth year option, and Van Noy turning 34 in March.
For general manager Eric DeCosta, he begins looking for a Van Noy alternative and perhaps a secondary edge rush. Baltimore has been one of the better passing defenses in the league for a long time, but struggled in 2024, ranking 31st in the Jacksonville Jaguars alone.
Oweh and Van Noy give the Ravens time to develop a young pass rush from the edge, but Decosta should start investing now.
Of all AFC teams, Bengal may have both the easiest and challenging goals than they do. In short, before training camp begins, you sign three of the league’s best players.
Cincinnati has long been known for having short arms and deep pockets, which have caused surprises to fans, agents and players over the years. Now, Bengalis could use Higgins’ franchise tag for the second consecutive offseason, while attempting a long-term deal. He then won the NFL triple crown in 2024 with 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns for receiver triple crown. He intends to request market setting trading.
Defensively, Hendrickson called for a final offseason deal, then relentlessly in 17.5 bags to earn the first team’s all-professional honors. He’s 30 years old, but his next contract is also pretty substantial.
In short, Cincinnati owner Mike Brown needs to open his wallet in a way he’s never done for a non-quarter before. Three times.
In the 105-year history of the NFL, there has never been a greater deal catastrophe than the Browns’ acquisition of Watson.
After swapping three first round picks for Watson and then with the Houston Texans, Berry watched his movement turn into an irreparable disaster. In three seasons with Cleveland, Watson played in just 19 games, threw 19 touchdown passes and won in just nine games. Now recovering from a torn Achilles, he managed to miss out on most or all of the 2025 season, but he scored a league-high $72.9 million cap hit for the next two years.
With Watson on the shelf, Berry will have to find a successor to his, perhaps as long as the Browns go. With the No. 2 pick, Cleveland can choose either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, and at least have it at his fingertips.
Will Berry play for one of the well-known rookies, like Kirk Cousins, who played under Stefanski while in Minnesota? It’s an attractive situation.
This may be a hopeful idea, but the Steelers should consider blowing up their roster.
Yes, Pittsburgh made it to the playoffs last season, but was blown away by the Ravens in a wildcard round and gave up over 300 rushing yards. The Steelers also collapsed the stretch and fell from the top of AFC North in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens.
In the midst of this trend, Watt and Pickens are entering their final years of trading in Pittsburgh. Considering Watt is 30 years old and shows signs of minimal decline, it makes sense to deal with both the biggest returns, but Pickens is mercury despite his obvious talent It’s inconsistent.
Pittsburgh needs to have the opportunity to rebuild its roster, look for long-term answers at quarterback and reset it to a real-life run since 2027.
